1To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 7 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
I must appologise for not answering your esteemed favours of 1st & 2d Ulto (which reached me about a fourtnight ago) before this Time but hope you will excuse me when I enform you of the Occasion. A number of losses in Trade during & since the war had so much involved my Affairs that altho’ I had property in value equal to what I owed it was so much scatterd that I found myself under a...
2To George Washington from Jacob Read, 9 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
When I had the pleasure to See you last Summer at Mount Vernon I believe I informed you in answer to a question on the Subject that Congress had received a Copy of the Roll of Negroes &Ca taken by the Commissioners for Superintending the Embarkations at New York at the time of the removal of the Refugees and British Garrison from this City—I now find I was mistaken and that the one I had Seen...
3To George Washington from Samuel Hanway, 26 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
In a Short time after you left my office I Examin’d the falls of Cheat river agreeable to your request and find that it will be Imposible to effect a navigation up it through the Laurell Hill, I have made the stri[c]test Enquiry whare the most advantagious and nearest Communication by Land can be had from the north branch to the Western Waters, and find it Will be to the falls of the Tyeger...
4To George Washington from Aeneas Lamont, 31 December 1784 (Washington Papers)
Perhaps you will be surprized at receiving a letter from a person entirely unknown to you, and more so, I fear, at the liberty I have already taken with your name: Altho’ I cannot attempt to Justifie this impertinance, yet I consider it some liquidation of my offence that I am not the first man of genius (or immaginary genius) that have succoured their efforts by the influence of the great....
5To George Washington from Rochambeau, 9 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour of Sending to you the new promotion Which has been done lately for the order of Cincinnatus according to the resolutions of the last meeting of the general Society. I also inclose in it the copy of a letter from M. le Mal de segur bearing the permission of his majesty for these new aggregated. you will See by it, at the Same time, that his majesty Stops all kind of farther...
6To George Washington from James Keith, 10 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will remember in Octr 1782 I was tried upon the following charges (Viz.) 1st for presuming “to detach a party of armed Men from the Garrison of West Point, without the consent or knowledge of the Commandant, and putting them under the direction of a person who was not an Officer; to the prejudice of good Order and Military discipline. 2d For a palpable contempt and disobedience...
7To George Washington from John Woddrop, 16 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I having done myself the honour for to write to your Excellency on the 27th of July the last year, and to transmit along therewith a list of the different Manufacturies in the linen branch of bussiness in Scotland, and as I did do so with a vow to be of some use to the States of America, and also to serve the Mississippi Company, of which Company my brother Robert Woddrop, late factor &...
8To George Washington from La Luzerne, 15 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
The Marquis de la Fayette has delivered to me the letters of your Excellency and I am extreemely flattered by this mark of your attention and of your remembrance. I have executed your commissions near his Majesty and the Royal family, and the King is concerned that your domestic affairs deprive him of the satisfaction to see a man, whose talents and virtues have procured the hapiness of his...
9To George Washington from Thomas Bibby, 4 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter and a parcell which accompanies it was entrusted to my care by Sr Edward Newenham, to be delivered to Your Excellency; I regret much the not having it in my power to present them myself, an honor which the situation of my affairs in this state deprives me of. I have hopes however before my return to Europe, to be enabled to receive in person any Commands Your Excellency may...
10To George Washington from Henry Knox, 5 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
It has been my intention ever since I have been in this City which is fourteen days to have written to you, but my business has been such as to prevent this gratification. Congress have directed 700 Men to be raised for three years, to be apportioned upon the states of Connecticut New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, for the protection of the Western frontiers, to defend the Settlers on the...
11To George Washington from William Carmichael, 25 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
P.S. As I have lately recd Letters from the Marquis & Marchioness de la Fayette which announce his arrival in Europe, I take the Liberty of sending you a Triplicate of a Letter which I had the honor to write you under cover to the Marquis the 3d of Decr 1784. His return to Europe may otherwise occasion surmises which would hurt me as a delay of this communication might appear Singular on my...
12To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 10 December 1784 (Washington Papers)
Every thing on this side the water seems to indicate a certainty of war. the Emperor seems decided in not receding from the right to navigate the Scheld; & the Dutch as determined not to yeild it. I suppose that this court & that of Berlin will take part with the Dutch, the Turks of course become parties in a war against the Emperor: & it seems as probable that the Empress of Russia will join...
13To George Washington from William Gordon, 28 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your obliging favours of the 8th inst. were recd on the Saturday. From them I infer not only the continuance of your friendly assistance, but that the papers are regularly received; as yet I have not missed sending, tho’ the post has at times been delayed thro’ the snows: The face of the earth is still covered with them, in these parts, a few trifling spots excepted; & should a thaw come on...
14To George Washington from William Grayson, 10 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of your favor of the 22nd of Jany just as I was setting of from Dumfries, and I should have answered it from Mr Orr’s in Loudoun, where I was detained some time on account of Mrs Grayson’s illness, if I had not wish’d for more time to reflect on the subject matter of it: It would have giv’n me great pleasure (if my particular situation would have permitted) to have waited on...
15To George Washington from Battaile Muse, 25 January 1785 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Battaile Muse, 25 Jan. 1785. On 5 Feb. GW wrote to Muse : “I have lately received two letters from you, one of the 14th & the other of the 25th of last month.”
16To George Washington from David Humphreys, 12 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
Finding there was a Vessel in this port destined for Virginia, I could not take my departure for Paris without informing my dear General of my safe arrival in france after a most delightful passage of twenty four days; and as I cannot give a better discription of the excellent accomodations & beautiful weather which we have had during the whole of our voyage, than I have already given in a...
17To George Washington from Melancton Smith, 26 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 20th Decr. I am extremely mortified that you have been subjected to the inconveniency and loss you mention by not receiving timely information of the arrival of the Plate. You may be assured, Sir, that my not giving you earlier advice was not owing to the want of a disposition to oblige you, but to casualties that could not be prevented. I was out of Town when the...
18To George Washington from John Harvie, 13 April 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have to Regret that an Excursion into the Country for Eight or ten days past prevented my receiveing your Letter of March the 19th in time to Answer it by this Weeks post—I shall Sir with the highest Satisfaction look into the several Acts of Convention and Assembly that make any thing to the point and do myself the Honour of Communicating to you the Necessary References to them by the next...
19To George Washington from Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, 15 April 1785 (Washington Papers)
Should you meet with delay, or disappointments from Col. Hooe in payment of my Order; the Interest shall be allowed on any sum that he may be tardy in paying, but to prevent this being the case, I wish that Mr Lund Washington would put the Colo. in mind of the promise he made me, that you should not be disappointed. Mr Richmond has calculated the depreciation on your Certs. agreeably to the...
20To George Washington from La Luzerne, 12 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I flatter myself that the distance in which I live now from you has not lessened the esteem and Confidence with which you have been constantly pleased to honor me. I should think myself very fortunate if the future incidents of my Life could afford me an opportunity to receive new proofs of your Kindness and of your Friendship. The first moments I passed with my Countrymen were employed in...
21To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 14 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
In reply to your favor of december the 14th I had the honor to write to you from Trenton, and I mentioned an enclosed letter from you for the Marquis Fayette, which coming to hand after the Marquis had sailed, I wished to know your pleasure, whether I should forward it to France or return it to you—I have not been honored with your commands upon that point. Soon after my arrival in this city,...
22To George Washington from Charles Washington, 19 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer Robt Carter (Overseer & Maneger for the two little Boys George & Laurence) is sent to you with £55.12.0 which you will please to Recieve and apply it to there use, and if this shou’d not be Sufficient a further supply shall be sent as soon as Possable. I have never had an Oppertunity of seeing Mr Booth since I wrote you last and therefore am not Certain how it may sute him to take...
23To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 7 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered to you by the honorable Mr Sitgreaves a very worthy delegate to Congress from N. Carolina; who has been long detained by his desire to see the Land Ordinance passed, but he is obliged at last to quit us before it is finally so—The reasons he can give you. I had some time ago written a letter for you in answer to your last faver & kept it to go by this Gentleman, whose...
24To George Washington from John de Neufville, 10 March 1785 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John de Neufville, 10 Mar. 1785. On 8 Sept. GW wrote de Neufville : “I have lately been honored with your favors of the 10th & 15th of March.”
25To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
Apprehending the escape of the season before your vessel may arrive, I have got the favor of Mr Hall to permit his servant to call at Mount-Vernon. He has twelve horse chesnut, twelve box-cuttings & twelve dwarf box-cuttings—you may have any supply of either box, you please to order—I can supply you also with cypress & holly which can be ready at the shortest notice—Perhaps we may have some...
26To George Washington from Jacob Read, 13 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
This days post brought me your favour of the 11th, which I have the pleasure of Answering from Annapolis—having been prevented leaving Maryland by a Variety of Occurrencees in the last Week—I think however I Shall at all events get away in the Course of the next week & probably So early as to Compleat my Journey to Philadelphia. I thank you for your Opinions, they Concur perfectly with my own...
27To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 29 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
I just met with a Sloop going immediately for Potowmack by which I have time to send the Two bags of Grass seed received from mr Boudinot which the Captain has promised to deliver if possible at Mount Vernon otherwise to mr Thompson at Colchester. The other kind of Grass seed I could not yet procure tho’ I have applied to every person in Town who collects those Articles & to several farmers. I...
28To George Washington from David Humphreys, 18 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
A direct opportunity for America having offered itself thro’ the medium of Colo. Franks I again indulge myself in writing to my dear General; and take the most heartfelt satisfaction in acknowledging the receipt of the Dispatches which were so obligingly addressed for me to the care of Govr Jefferson—who arrived in this City about ten days before me. Tho I dare not undertake to say in this...
29To George Washington from Robert Morris, 1 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
The Gentlemen who will have the honor to deliver you this Letter are from the West Indias they were Recommended to me by an old acquaintance and I find them very Genteel agreable Men. The Brilliancy of your Character attracts the attention of the World, they cannot pass to the Southward without gratifying their Wishes by an interview with the first Man of the Age and I am sure they will meet a...
30To George Washington from James Madison, 9 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have now the pleasure of confirming the expectations hinted in my last concerning the result of the measures which have been favoured with your patronage. The Bill for opening the Potowmac has passed precisely on the model transmitted from Maryland, the last conditional clause in the latter being rendered absolute by a clause in the former which engages this State for fifty shares in the...